Stephanopoulos to replace Sawyer on 'GMA'

NEW YORK, Dec. 9 (UPI) -- ABC News's chief Washington correspondent, George Stephanopoulos, has been hired to replace Diane Sawyer as co-anchor of "Good Morning America."

The Washington Post reported Stephanopoulos, a former Clinton White House aide, is to start his new job Monday alongside current co-anchor Robin Roberts. He is expected to focus more on hard news than features, the Post said.

ABC journalist JuJu Chang is also to take over Chris Cuomo's position as "GMA" news anchor, the newspaper said Wednesday

Cuomo, who was passed over as a possible replacement for Sawyer in favor of Stephanopoulos, reportedly is in talks to co-anchor "20/20."

Sawyer announced this week that Friday will be her last day as co-anchor of "GMA."

She is to start her new job as "World News Tonight" anchor Dec. 21. Current anchor Charles Gibson is retiring and his last day will be Dec. 18.